This is the official Blog for Tony Horton, creator of Power 90, Power Half Hour and P90X.

Friday, May 05, 2006

Bright or Bleak

The vast majority of things I choose to do are designed to bring joy into my life. While I'm not always successful, I try to avoid stuff that makes life lousy. In the midst of chores, work and meetings I'm not necessarily rolling in bliss, but I hope that these activities will lead to elation down the road. Your workouts are like this. The exercises sort of suck sometimes but the outcome is always worth it. Anything worth having is worth risking something for. Trying new things, committing to a daily workout plan, going out of your way to help other people will open up your world. You expand and grow and learn and experience life. Your circle gets bigger and bigger. You know and do more. You see and experience things that you never knew existed. Life is filled with hope and passion. You stay curious and look for other ways to grow and improve. All this from trying, committing and helping. A life like this doesn't just happen. You can't wing it and expect a joyous fulfilled life. You must try the things that don't go well at first. You must clean up your act and make a schedule for your fitness. You must find time to help others and be open to others helping you. You must ask for what you need, and what you need comes only from you and no one else.

When the glass is half empty you're not trying anything. If you are trying and it's not working then try something else. Quitting is death. Quitting is like saying the glass is empty. If you can't find the time to make the time to take care of yourself then your world will only get teeny tiny. Don't pick a bleak existence. This world is too incredible to miss out on it. Figure out what you're doing and when, then do it. Put a plan in place and follow your own directions. Create the path and the journey. Follow up and see it through. Get organized so that your cart stays behind the horse. Organization gives you the freedom to live your designed life. Know what you're doing ahead of time to avoid any guess work. The journey will be long and winding and unpredictable, so be prepared before you go. You'll have a lot more fun if you do, because you'll be ready for anything. You'll also need partners in all of this. Surround yourself with people who are willing to peek around a few corners. Start your own bandwagon or jump into someone else's. But whatever you do, do it with fun, passionate people that like what you like. This will make the journey worth waking up for every day. Tell the naysayers, want-to-bees and side-liners to get out of your way because your world is waiting to be explored.

14 comments:

Mary Cecy
said...

AMEN! Well said and in practice. Life is too short to just let it fly by. It takes practice and organization (there I said it). It is not going to happen overnight because it took a lot longer to get to where I am at.

AMEN! Thank you for this Tony. I have a friend who would like to lose weight and she always makes excuses regarding why she can't workout. I try to make her understand that she needs to want it bad enough to change how her life works right now. I learned that with Power 90 - as long as you commmit, you will succeed. Working out it now part of my life and I can't imagine what life would be like without regular physical activity! If that means working out late - the that's what I do. Thank you for this message, and for your great advice! :)

My Beachbody experience has really opened up a whole new world for me. A few years ago I was scared to try anything new. I just existed in my dull, ordinary life. Now the sky's the limit!

As an example, I flew by myself to Miami to attend your fitness camp. I didn't know anyone else that was going and roomed with someone I'd never met. I had a wonderful time, but would never have had the experience if it hadn't been for what I've learned during my Beachbody experience. I've learned that I can do much more than I think I can and that its important to take chances and try new things if I really want to live life to the fullest and grow in knowledge and experience.

I think you've heard me say this, but when I first tried YogaX, I hated it. All I could think of was "get this over"--I don't like holding these poses--why subject myself to this? Well, I soon learned the value of yoga and became a yoga fan. A couple weeks ago, I actually got in my car by myself and drove about 350 miles to Wisconsin to attend a special yoga weekend with Baron Baptiste's #1 yoga instructor. I did 7 1/2 hours of yoga on Sat. and 3 more hours on Sun in a 90 degree room. It was one of the toughest things I've done, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Before this, I had no clue what holding poses for a long time meant, but now I do! ;-) I've learned so much and if I get a chance, I'd do this all over again!

I've learned it really is important to stay fit so I'll be ready for my next "new adventure". Thanks so much, Tony and Beachbody, for opening up my world!

Well said, Tony! Love you, man! Quitting is not an option! I've been a BB member for almost 3 years (August). I've been up, I've been down...but I never quit...Now I'm giving it my all with P90X, my diet is cleaner than ever, I'm taking all the P90X supplements and I've incorporated outdoor activites with the family too...hiking, biking, swimming, etc. My life at 40 is better than it was in my teens, 20s and 30s! Thanks mostly to you...."my #1 trainer!" Thanks, bud! You're the best!

Thanks so much for posting on my thread! It made my day!! And LoriJ's, too!! :) Yes, I am on day three now of the X and I LOVE it!!! My inner thighs are sore like nothing else, but you know what? I LOVE IT!!! Dude, you're turning me into a masochist with this workout stuff!! :)

Thanks for the wonderful words! You are amazing! Did I mention how much I love ya :P!!! It was really awesome to see you leave a message on Sarah's thread. I just recently joined her thread and she welcomed this reveded up girl in with open arms!I can identify with the part where you wrote about "Quitting is death" because it really is! I had a rough season with basketball and I was ready to just hang up my shoes...I even made the decision and let me tell you, those 2 days were heck! I was soo depressed oh man. So I picked it back up and Im working the X and life is great!

You know, I reallllly think you should set a camp in Vancouver! I want you to come out hereee! Hehe!

Right on! It's amazing how many people don't realize that a positive attitude is very attractive! My motto is that it's a waste of your energy to expend negative energy. So when I found out I had a child with a disability I realized that folks were gonna take their cues from me! I could either take positive steps to make our family healthy and happy our I could wallow in self pity! I applied the same positive attitude to my work outs and it's amazing how many people want to do what I'm doing because I seem so dang happy! Well I suppose that's cuz I am! But putting a positive plan of action into all we do can only make the journey more enjoyable! I have loved doing P90 and now the Masters and soon the X. Because I enjoy it so much, so many of my friends have been giving it a whirl and all of them love it! Some may not do it with the diligence that I do but they are makin positive changes and that sure is a step in the right direction!

TONY~ Thanks for taking the time to write such meaningful info. This is yet another example of why Beachbody works. YOU! You are more than a fitness trainer, you open your arms and welcome everyone at every fitness level and keep us all PP! Thank you BB for having Tony Horton on board! Tony you are such a down to earth person. Your humor and knowledge keeps me moving!!

I jumped on the BB bandwagon in March of 2003 and the experience truly changed my life. And it continues to do so everyday..

My life has changed in so many aspects...Life - Love- Health- Fitness and Family..

Here's a little suggestion for the peeps... If you want to surround yourself with Inspiration and Motivation.. Share your Journey and Listen to the stories of those who went before you.. GET TO A CAMP!! Guaranteed to change your life....

I live by these words.." This is your life,No one can live it,No one can change itNO ONE BUT YOU"

Tony,He has spoken! You're on the way to legend status (o.k., you're already there) with this and your last blog.

Too many people never think "outside the box" and your ideas and thoughts work in harmony with someone who isn't just trying to get their body in shape - it also works for those of us trying to get our soul in shape too.